Car and consumerism smarts

More tips from the Live Green Movement.

Keep your car tuned up.
Keeping your air filter clean saves 800 pounds of carbon dioxide, and P1,500 a year. Make sure your tires are adequately inflated, and save 250 pounds of carbon dioxide, and up to P40,000 in fuel costs each year.

Avoid idling: turn off your car engine in heavy traffic.
If your car will idle for more than 45 seconds, it’s more fuel-efficient to turn off the engine and restart the car when you’re ready to go.

Avoid disposables.
Don’t get the plastic cutlery that goes with takeout food, get a proper razor, invest in a pen that uses ink refills, or use a sponge instead of kitchen paper towels. If you can’t swear off disposable baby diapers, limit its use for travel or nighttime until baby is toilet trained.

Avoid ordering takeout.
Instant processed foods always involve less packaging, disposable plastic cutlery, paper tissues, plastic tumblers and Styrofoam clamshell packs. Bring packed lunches, or step out of the office and eat out! Keep your own mug at the office, as well as a reusable small plate (for the birthday-cake slice), cutlery or chopsticks.

Set your clothing quota.
Nobody needs six pairs of black dress shoes, or two dozen pairs of socks, or three handbags in exact the same shade of blue or brown that matches your wardrobe staples. (Ouch!)

For Mommies: the best money-saving tip I know. Decide to breastfeed your baby! The money you save from buying formula milk and spending on infant illnesses can be used for downpayment on a house! Bonding with baby, emotional security, more intelligence — is priceless.

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